They Chose Her Over Me—Then Begged Me to Remember Them Chapter 03
That afternoon, the whole family showed up together.
Dr. Whitman handed the physical exam report to Mom.
“All metrics normal. Ninety-nine days with zero incidents of aggression, no hallucinations, stable mood throughout.”
“My recommendation is immediate discharge.”
Mom took the report. “She’s… really fine?”
“She’s fine,” said Dr. Whitman. “Behavior can be faked. But physiological data can’t lie. She’s healthy.”
I stood off to the side, not daring to speak, not daring to move.
Mom studied me for a long moment. Something in her expression shifted, slowly, from scrutiny into something else.
She sighed.
“Look how thin she’s gotten.”
Desmond walked over and ruffled my hair.
“Rough few months in here, huh?”
My throat tightened. I bit down hard on my lip.
Don’t cry. Don’t cry.
If I cried, they’d say I was unstable again.
Mom stood and gently tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear.
“Maybe… it really was an accident, last time.”
“I was just scared something would happen to you, that’s why I—”
She didn’t finish the sentence.
But I understood.
When I was little and running a fever, Mom held me all through the night, forehead pressed to mine, checking my temperature.
She has to love me.
She must have just been scared for me, and that’s why she got it wrong.
That’s when Della walked in.
“I’m so sorry, Rosalind…”
Her eyes were rimmed red.
“That day… maybe it really was an accident. I hit the coffee table when I fell… Mom just loves me so much, that’s why she got it wrong.”
“I’ve felt so guilty this whole time, knowing you were suffering in here.”
Mom looked at Della, then back at me, and sighed.
“See? Della didn’t mean it either.”
Desmond patted my shoulder.
“We’re family. There’s no grudge that lasts overnight.”
Miles walked up and stood in front of me, head lowered.
“Rosalind. I was wrong this time.”
He paused.
“Let me make it up to you when we get home. How about Iceland? You’ve always wanted to see the Northern Lights, haven’t you?”
Just then, a nurse approached with a clipboard.
“Family members, please sign here to complete the discharge paperwork.”
Desmond and Miles went over first, Mom right behind them.
“I’ll sign. This time I’m taking Rosalind home for good.”
I sat on the bed, watching them bustle about.
Like waking up from an endless nightmare, finally.
Mom’s voice carried in from the hallway.
“Rosalind, come sign! Once it’s done, we can leave!”
I stood and started toward the door.
Della, standing in the doorway, suddenly slammed her own head into the wall—and screamed.
“Help! Rosalind’s lost it again!”
